There are a lot of creators who want to make a living from making comics. It’s a goal, and it becomes both easier and harder as time goes on. Easier because of the modern tools and opportunities that have arisen to actually earn a living doing this, and more difficult because those same tools and opportunities are available to anyone who’s talented enough, works hard enough, and is bold enough to reach out and grab them.

There have always been those who have wanted to make a living from their art. (I’m using the term “art” very loosely here. I don’t mean just drawing, I also mean writing, painting, sculpting, and building. Anything that is not necessary to life is art.) Hundreds of years ago, artists (of all stripes) would have patrons who would basically pay for their living expenses as long as the artist created something pleasing. Others were commissioned by governments (kings, queens, churches) to create for them.

Today, we have the internet and computers and a lot more people on the planet who are connected, and those people have different tastes, leading to creators being able to find a niche and fill it. The filling of that niche can often lead to the creator being able to make a living from their creations.

However, it’s a privilege. You can write a few pages of words to tell a story and get paid for it instead of having to spend a day digging a ditch? You can put pencil to paper and make a drawing and get paid for it instead of flipping burgers? You have a knack for bringing the best out of people and coordinating their efforts in order to bring something new into the world instead of being a waiter/waitress? You get to create something on your own time (or maybe someone else’s) and get paid well for it instead of going to a regular job where individuality is crushed under the boot of conformity and actuarial charts?

Privilege.

If you’re able to create and get paid for it, making a living from it, don’t bemoan the situation you’re in. There are a ton of people who would love to be in your position. If you must complain, do it quietly, amongst those you call friend or family. Then once you’ve unloaded, get back to creating.

Remember, you could always find yourself in a cubicle, doing work you hate and that destroys your creativity. Then your complaints would be of a totally different flavor altogether.